US 12,448,998 B2
Propeller shaft assembly for aircraft engine
Mateusz Kesek, Nagawczyna (PL); and Tomasz Rozputynski, Hyżne (PL)
Assigned to PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed by PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., Longueuil (CA)
Filed on Sep. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/932,748.
Prior Publication US 2024/0093641 A1, Mar. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. F16C 3/02 (2006.01); F16D 1/076 (2006.01); B64C 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 3/023 (2013.01) [F16D 1/076 (2013.01); B64C 11/02 (2013.01); F16B 2200/506 (2018.08)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A propeller shaft assembly for an aircraft engine, comprising:
a shaft having a bore extending through the shaft at a front end thereof, the front end of the shaft having an annular shaft wall defining an outer surface facing radially outwardly from the shaft and an inner surface spaced apart from the outer surface and facing radially inwardly to the bore, the annular shaft wall defining a front flange projecting radially outwardly on the from the inner surface, the front flange defining a hub side surface and an engine side surface opposite the hub side surface and axially spaced apart therefrom, the hub side surface of the front flange adapted to abut with a propeller hub, the front flange having a base defined by a shaft wall section having a progressively reducing wall thickness measured from the inner surface to the outer surface of the annular shaft wall, from the engine side surface of the front flange; and
a sleeve coupled to the annular shaft wall within the bore by an interference fit between the sleeve and the inner surface of the annular shaft wall, at least part of the sleeve axially aligned with the front flange, the sleeve axially extending from a front sleeve end to a rear sleeve end, the rear sleeve end axially offset from the engine side surface of the front flange at the base of the front flange, the sleeve extending and contacting the inner surface of the annular shaft wall axially beyond the base of the front flange.